Below is a message from Midwest Division Coordinator John Zimmerman regrading the current situation involving IAJE.  The executive board will be meeting in the coming week to discuss specific IAJE-MN issues and will get back to the membership with that information shortly.

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For the past year I have served IAJE as the Midwest Division Coordinator responsible for the oversight of seven state chapters.  Six of the seven chapters in our division are well organized, providing important outreach programs in their respective States. Their treasuries can support current level of programming for at least a year or two. Mary Jo Papich, who was the President-elect of the association's executive board, is rumored to be working on a proposal to launch a new umbrella organization.

Most state chapters are currently smack dab in the middle of their outreach program schedule. All of the chapters that I have been in contact with are planning to continue their mission to promote and support jazz education in their respective states. I believe some chapters will become independent state entities while others will wait for some for some type of umbrella organization to restructure under.

The current issue of concern is how the Kansas Bankruptcy Court is going to view chapter affiliation and their corresponding treasury. Some chapters are incorporated and others not, leaving much speculation as to the course of action the court will take. All chapters, who are not incorporated, have been encouraged to register now as 501c3 corporations.

Throughout my many years of service to IAJE, I have met hundreds of dedicated educators who are giving back to an art form that they love. Their talents, energy and expertise will continue to make a difference in jazz education today and tomorrow.